Noise
It's well known that exposure to excess noise levels can lead to hearing loss. To prevent damage, legislation sets exposure limits that avoid this type of damage.
As a “rule of thumb”, a noise problem may exist where people have difficulty being understood by someone who is about two metres, or less, away.
Managers should examine any situation where staff or students work in circumstances where there are noise levels of this type, particularly where the exposure of those individuals occurs over a long period during the working day. Background noise levels in environments such as plant rooms and workshops should be considered. These may not exceed hazardous levels unless specific work is being done and consideration should be given to both routine conditions and also to particular tasks that may be done only periodically or intermittently but which may generate high noise levels.
Judgements about noise exposure may be technically difficult for local managers and SEPS can provide specialist advice and support. SEPS can also carry out field survey noise measurements to help quantify the noise levels and whether there is a potential noise problem that requires more detailed assessment.
Management procedures should aim to reduce noise exposure to acceptable levels. Ideally, this should be done by means other than hearing protection, as the preferred option. Where this is not possible, suitable hearing protection may be required, whether for a specific task or for all of those in the general area. Units should consider whether specific areas need to be designated and signed as 'Hearing Protection Zones'. Written assessments of noise exposure are generally required in cases where there is significant exposure to noise at work. Where hearing protection is needed, its use is mandatory and must be enforced.
The volume of the sound (its sound pressure level) and the exposure time both contribute to the noise dose to which someone may be exposed. Overall exposure can be managed by reducing one, or both of these factors.
Where individuals have significant noise exposure ongoing health surveillance and hearing tests may be appropriate and a health surveillance risk assessment should be carried out. Occupational Health can be contacted for further advice on the need for health surveillance.
The HSE page on noise at work can be found here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm